| Nuchal lines | |
|---|---|
 Occipital bone. Outer surface. | |
 Side view of head, showing surface relations of bones. (Superior and median lines visible at bottom right.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | linea nuchae |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
The nuchal lines are four curved lines on the external surface of the occipital bone:
- The upper, often faintly marked, is named the highest nuchal line, but is sometimes referred to as the Mempin line or linea suprema, and it attaches to the epicranial aponeurosis.
- Below the highest nuchal line is the superior nuchal line. To it is attached, the splenius capitis muscle, the trapezius muscle,[1] and the occipitalis.[2]
- From the external occipital protuberance a ridge or crest, the external occipital crest also called the median nuchal line, often faintly marked, descends to the foramen magnum, and affords attachment to the nuchal ligament.
- Running from the middle of this line is the inferior nuchal line. Attached are the obliquus capitis superior muscle, rectus capitis posterior major muscle, and rectus capitis posterior minor muscle.
- ^ Rea, Paul (2016-01-01), Rea, Paul (ed.), "Chapter 3 - Neck", Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck, Academic Press, pp. 131–183, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-803633-4.00003-x, ISBN 978-0-12-803633-4, retrieved 2020-11-02
- ^ Casteleyn, Christophe; Bakker, Jaco (2019-01-01), Marini, Robert; Wachtman, Lynn; Tardif, Suzette; Mansfield, Keith (eds.), "Chapter 2 - The Anatomy of the Common Marmoset", The Common Marmoset in Captivity and Biomedical Research, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Academic Press, pp. 17–41, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-811829-0.00002-9, ISBN 978-0-12-811829-0, S2CID 92754272, retrieved 2020-11-02